Maria Socorro Diokno
Secretary General - Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG)

On 6 May 1998, the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) National Office received by mail a written death threat addressed to its vice-chairman Attorney Jose Manuel Diokno sent by the Anti-Kuratong Baleleng Squad. The English translation of the death threat, which was written in Filipino, reads as follows:

"We will ensure you are killed on All Souls Day (May 11 - Death Day! Election)
"March 24, 1998
"TARGET: Jose Manokurel Diokno
"(OVERDUE)
"FAULT:Anti-Cha Cha Kuratong Leader
"Pro-Cory Aquino/Card. Sin

"The security guards in your CMC Building are strict, so we shall change the strategy to kill you. You will be followed wherever you go, and you will be killed when you least expect it. You’ll be dead and you won’t even know. You’re dead! For sure. Dead. (There is a drawing of hand grenade marked with the word - "Explosion!" and a drawing of a bullet with the word - "Bullet!")

"Anti-Nur Misuari vows death to enemies of Mindanao Agenda.
"National Court Mindanao Agenda
"Islamic International Law
"The person in CANADA should be made to come home and face the case. He does not need any attorney representative.
"Anti-Kuratong Baleleng Squad.
"WILL BE KILLED JOSE DIOKNO
"OVER DUE TARGET
"WILL BE FOLLOWED WHEREVER HE GOES."

The death threat is clearly related to Mr. Diokno’s free legal services in the Kuratong Baleleng case as it speaks specifically of "the person in CANADA," Eduardo de los Reyes, the principal State witness against several generals and policemen accused of murdering 11 alleged Kuratong Baleleng members, and it is signed by the "Anti-Kuratong Baleleng Squad."

The allusions to the "Mindanao Agenda" apparently refer to the series of caucuses and consultations FLAG held with its members Mindanao-wide sometime in mid-1996 shortly after the government had ended its negotiations with the Moro National Liberation Front and announced the creation of the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD) to be led by Mr. Nur Misuari. Mr. Diokno attended only one of the consultations with FLAG members in Mindanao; the other consultations were led by FLAG’s chairman (Atty. Pablito V. Sanidad), secretary general (Ms. Maria Socorro I. Diokno) and a member of FLAG’s executive committee (Atty. Efren Moncupa).

The death threat was sent in a plain airmail envelope addressed to the old offices of Mr. Diokno; the return address of the envelope was the address of the FLAG National Office. Since Mr. Diokno had moved offices two years ago, the letter was "returned to sender" and hence received by the FLAG National Office.

This is not the first time Mr. Diokno was threatened in connection with the case. Since February 1996, he has been under surveillance, and has received threatening phone calls and beeper messages. In February 1997, an unsigned death threat was sent to the offices of Senator Raul Roco, Justice Francis Garchitorena and Justice Jose Balajadia; the death threat was clearly intended also for Mr. Diokno. Shortly after receiving the unsigned death threat, Justice Garchitorena received a funeral wreath. In March 1997, Mr. Diokno again received a phone call warning him to "be careful."

FLAG is gravely concerned over the safety and the well-being of its national vice-chairman. The reference to the elections on 11 May, which in the Philippines are traditionally laden with violence, and the forthcoming anniversary of the Kuratong Baleleng incident on 18 May 1998, both lead FLAG to view this threat seriously.

We therefore ask you to please write to the Philippine government, protesting this incident and asking for an immediate and impartial investigation into the matter.